Carrier tube



FQE. 25, 1936. G, H. TOBELMAQN Q 2,031,988

CARRIER TUBE Filed July 50, 1935 INVENTOR /O (3 i +W ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1936 ATET QFFICE CARRIER TUBE Application July 30, 1935, Serial No. 33,819

8 Claims.

This invention relates to carrier tubes for use in pneumatic dispatch systems.

Carrier tubes which have heretofore been used have become broken or rendered useless after 5 being in use only a short time because of the hard usage to which they are put. To overcome these defects, constructions have been made which are both complicated and expensive. Also most carriers for slips of paper need covers to keep the 10 papers therein. I have overcome the objections of prior devices by providing a strong shell or carrier embodying a simple and new construction. Preferably the shell or carrier tube is made of metal but is so made as to retain its shape 13 even when subjected to hard usage. The shell or carrier is shown of one piece construction and has its closed bottom. end reinforced and also has its reduced open end reinforced. Adjacent its open end the carrier tube has a converging 20' portion which is adapted to hold a slip or sheet of paper in the tube without the need of using a cover.

The object of my invention is to provide a new sturdy shell or carrier tube which is relatively 25 cheap but which will last a much longer time as compared to carrier tube devices heretofore known.

According to my invention the carrier tube comprises a tube having a relatively thick bottom to withstand the hard usage of pneumatic systems. The carrier tube is preferably made of metal, and adjacent its open end my carrier is tapered or converges so as to assist in holding a rolled slip or sheet of paper in the carrier tube 5 without a cover. A rolled bead is formed on the open end toreinforce the opening.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a carrier tube made according to my invention; and,

Fig. 2 represents a longtiudinal cross section of the carrier tube shown in Fig. l with a rolled slip or sheet of paper held therein.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character l generally designates a carrier tube which is adapted for use in pneumatic systems for carrying slips of paper. The carrier tube has a rounded, closed bottom end :2, a cylindrical body portion M, a tapered portion E6 and an open end l8. The tube is preferably drawn from metal 50 and is preferably made of a one-piece construction but may be made in other ways and of other materials. The bottom end 12 of the tube is preferably made thicker than the wall of the body portion of the tube. When the tube is used 55 in pneumatic systems, the closed or bottom end 12 of the tube receives the hardest treatment as pounding occurs at this point, and the material of the bottom end is made thicker to withstand. this pounding. The wall of the cylindrical body portion M of the tube is of substantially the same 5 diameter for its length. Near its open end the carrier tube has the tapered or converging portion l6 which extends from I9 to the opening or open end l8 so as to' provide an opening which is of a smaller diameter than the cylindrical body 10 portion M of the tube. At the opening I 8 the material of the tube wall is rolled to provide a bead 22 which serves as a reinforcement for the opening l8.

My carrier tube is especially adapted for use in pneumatic systems for carrying slips or sheets of paper which are in rolled form. These slips or sheets of paper may be shorter than the length of the tube l6 as shown by the slip or sheet 24 in Fig. 2, or they may be longer to project a greater distance from the end of the carrier tube. The carrier tube has the thickened walls 26 at the bottom thereof. It is however to be expressly understood that the size of the slip may be varied within limits and need not be restricted to the actual size shown in the drawing. To insert the slip of paper into the tube, it is necessary to roll the slip of paper into tubular form of a size to fit within the opening IS in the carrier tube shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The 30 slip or sheet of paper is then partially inserted within the carrier tube III as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 so that a part 2'! of the rolled paper projects from the tube, and the portion 28 of the rolled paper in the tube expands or unravels t0 the full size of the body portion Id of the tube and takes the position within the tube shown in Fig. 2. The partially unraveled slip or sheet of paper is held within the tube because of the tapered portion 16 of the carrier tube. The tapered portion It has an opening [8 which is of smaller diameter than the body portion IA of the tube so that the unravelled or expanded portion 28 of the slip or sheet 24 is of greater diameter than the opening I8 and resists withdrawal or 4-3 extraction from the tube. The expanded or unraveled portion 28 within the tube acts as a wedge to prevent accidental withdrawal of the sheet or slip from the carrier tube. There is a definite resistance built up by the unraveled portion 28 when this unravelled or expanded portion 28 is pulled through the small opening l 8. In this way the expanded portion 28 places a drag or exerts a pressure on the interior of the carrier tube.

If it is desired to easily remove the rolled slip or sheet of paper, it may be rolled into a smaller size. In this way the slip or sheet of paper is held within the tube without using any cover for the carrier tube.

While I have shown the carrier tube only, it is to be expressly understood that a strip or strips of felt may be cemented or secured to the exterior of the carrier tube in order to make a seal for carrying the tube through the pneumatic carrier systems.

While I have shown one size of the paper sheet adapted to be inserted into the shell or carrier tube, it is to be expressly understood that I am not to be restricted thereto as the size of the paper sheet may be varied and long strips or sheets of fibrous material may be used in connection with my invention.

From the above it will be apparent that I have disclosed a relatively simple carrier tube which is sturdy and durable and relatively cheap to manufacture.

What I claim is:

1. An article of the character described, for carrying slips of paper in pneumatic dispatch systems, including a substantially cylindrical carrier tube having a closed ,end and an open end, said carrier tube having a tapered portion adjacent its open end to provide means for holding a slip of paper within the carrier tube during its transportation through the pneumatic system.

Y 2. An article of the character described for carrying slips of paper in pneumatic dispatch systems, including, a substantially cylindrical carrier tube having a closed end and an open end, said'carrier tube having a tapered portion adjaoent its open end to provide means for holding a slip of paper within the carrier tube during its transportation through the pneumatic system, said tube having a thickened closed end.

3. An article of the character described for carrying slips of paper in pneumatic dispatch systems, including a substantially cylindrical carrier tube having a closed end and an open end, said carrier tube having a tapered portion adjacent its open end to provide means for holding a slip of paper within the carrier tube during its transportation through the pneumatic system, said open end having a reinforcing bead.

4;. An articleof the character described for carrying slips or sheets of paper or the like in pneumatic dispatch systems including a substantially cylindrical carrier tube, said carrier tube having a closed end and an open end, said carrier tub-e adjacent its open end being provided with a converging portion to provide an open end smaller than the body of said carrier tube so that when the slip or sheet of paper or the like is rolled up into a small roll and inserted into said carrier tube and released, the portion within said tube expands or unrolls and the slip or sheet of paper is held within said carrier tube during the transportation of said carrier tube in the system.

5. An article of the character described for carrying slips or sheets of paper or the like in pneumatic dispatch systems, including a substantially cylindrical carrier tube, said carrier tube having a closed end and an open end, said carrier tube adjacent its open end being provided with a converging portion to provide an open end smaller than the body of said carrier tube so that when the slip or sheet of paper is rolled up into a small roll and inserted into said carrier tube and released, the portion within said tube expands or unravels and isheld within said carrier tube during the transportation of said tube in the system, said open end being provided with a reinforcing bead.

6. An article of the character described adapted for use in pneumatic systems, including, a tubular member having a closed end and an open end and a cylindrical body portion, said closed end being of increased thickness toreinforce said end, said cylindrical portion adjacent the open end of said tubular member being provided with a converging portion for holding a slip of paper within the tubular member during its transportation in the pneumatic system, said cylindrical member at its open end being provided with a. bead to reinforce the opening in the open end thereof.

7. An article of the character described for use in pneumatic dispatch systems, including a onepiece metallic carrier tube having a thickened closed end and an open end, said tube adjacent the open end having a converging portion for retaining a slip of paper in said carrier tube.

8. An article of the character described for carrying small slips of paper or the like in pneumatic dispatch systems including a substantially cylindrical carrier tube of greater length than the slip to be carried, said carrier tube having a closed end and an open end, said carrier adjacent its open end being provided with a converging portion to provide an open end smaller than the body of said carrier tube so that when the slip of paper or the like is rolled up into a small roll and partially inserted into said carrier tube and rel GUSTAVE H. TOBELMAN. 

